Reaching type loader



Aug. 3, 1965 LE GRAND H. LULL REACHING TYPE LOADER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 29, 1965 INVENTOR.

LE GPA/VD H. LULL BY A TTOR/VEY 1965 LE GRAND H. LULL 3,198,359

REACHING TYPE LOADER Filed Jan. 29, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. LE GRAND H. LULL A TTOR/VE Y 3, 1965 LE GPAND H. LULL 3,198,359

REACHING TYPE LOADER Filed Jan. 29, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. LE GRAND H. LULL ATTORNEY Aug. 3, 1965 LE GRAND H. LULL REACHING TYPE LOADER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 29, 1963 8 INVENTOR.

LE GRAND H LULL ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,198,359 REACHENG TYPE LUMBER Le Grand H. Luil, 5591 Woodlawn Blvd, Minneapolis, Minn. Filed .lan. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 254,675 3 Claims. (Cl. 214-bit?) This invention relates to a new and improved front end mobile loader. In particular, it concerns a mobile loader having novel reaching capabilities which permit the extension and retraction of a load in a straight parallel plane at any height of the boom.

Reaching type loaders are used for material handling jobs that require the placing of the load in positions beyond the immediate area of the machine. For example, the ability to lift and extend a load Without disturbing the position of the machine is useful in construction jobs where loads such as bricks, building material, scaffolding and the like are often hoisted up over a wall and onto a roof or platform therebeyond. Similarly, a reaching action is often of help in the unloading of trucks or railroad cars, in handling lumber, logs and such material and in maintenance and repair work of various kinds.

Most reaching type mobile loaders have a forwardly extending boom that is pivotally secured to the body of the loader by means of pivotal link structure which permit the load to be elevated and extended. The rear end of the boom is pivotally mounted adjacent the rear of the machine so that the load is always elevated or lowered in an arc throughout the boom movement. Reaching is obtained by providing a pivotal link structure between the booms and the body of the machine. It has been found that these loaders frequently lack stability, especially at extreme positions, and the boom tends to whip and sway. This is due in part to the fact that pivotal movement of the load carrying structure is required for every reaching, retracting and vertical displacement of the load. The load cannot be moved in a horizontal plane because every part of the boom assembly moves about a pivot axis. In prior art machines employing such pivotal rear link and boom structure the load must be lifted to a higher elevation while it is being extended and lowered during retract-ion. There is considerable danger involved in this i type of movement as for example when lifting bricks over a scaffold in an elevated position and retracting the boom against the scaffold.

i have found that the outstanding problem can be solved in a remarkably straight-forward and simple manner. In my invention, I obtain the desired reaching action for a mobile loader by mounting a pivotal boom assembly upon a non-pivoting longitudinally movable carriage that can be extended or retracted in a plane parallel to the axis of the machine. This construction eliminates the aforementioned disadvantages of arcing, whipping and swaying and also permits the manipulation of a load at all heights and positions with heretofore unknown smoothness and efficiency. And by separating the reaching action from the boom raising and lowering action, it has been possible to achieve a machine of greater utility, versatility, safety and economy without sacrificing any of the attributes of the prior art machines.

With the foregoing and other advantages and objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, arrangement, and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor detail-s of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

- For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and .many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

Referring to the drawings in which the same charatcers of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawrugs:

FIGURE 1 is an overall perspective view of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the invention;

FiGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the invention with the boom assembly in a forward extended position, the solid lines indicating the boom in a lowered position and the dashed lines indicating the boom in raised positions;

FlGURE 4 is an enlarged plan view, partially in section, taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially in section, taken along the lines 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the invention, with parts broken away and partially in section, taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 7;

FTGURE 7 is a rear elevational view of the invention with parts broken away;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the invention with the boom assembly in a rearward retracted position, the solid lines indicating the boom in a lowered position and the dashed lines indicating the boom in raised positions;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially in section, taken along the line 99 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially in section, taken along the line lib-14 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially in section, taken along the line 1111 of FIGURE 4.

Turning now to the drawings, the invention, indicated in its entirety by the reference character A, includes a mobile support or vehicle here shown as a tractor-like body provided with a frame 10 having front and rear axles l2 equipped with forward drive and rear steering wheels 14 driven through a suitable transmission mechanism 13 by the engine of the power plant 15. Frame it includes a pair of laterally spaced upper longitudinal side members 15 connected at their ends by front and rear lateral members 18 and fastened to the lower chassis 249 of frame id by vertical members 22, supports 24 and a rigid back plate 26. Ballast plates 28 are mounted on the rear of frame it An operators platform 30 is carried by frame it? along one side thereof between axles 12. A seat 32 and control housing 34 are mounted upon platform 34), which is supported by a braced assembly as extending laterally outward from frame iii.

A carriage as, mounted for longitudinal movement with respect to frame 1%, includes a pair of laterally spaced longitudinal side support stringers 42 connected laterally by a forward transverse support .44 and a rear transverse support at. As best shown in FIGURES 7 and 11, transverse supports 44 and 4-6 are arched, as at 45 and 47, respectively, to provide clearance with the power plant 15 when carriage 46 is caused to be displaced longitudinally. Intermediate stringers 49 are also provided between supports 44 and 46. The width of carriage 4t) corresponds generally to the interior width between longitudinal side members 16, which are made of channel stock having inwardly facing flanges 43 forming way means for carriage 4i Rotatably carried by support stringers 42 are front and rear rollers 5% adapted to rollably mount carriage as within side members 16 of frame It). Rollers 5d are Patented Aug. 3, 1965 assassin tapered, as at 52, to correspond with the taper of flanges 48. Mounting means 54 including stub shaft 55 are pro vided for rotatably mounting rollers 51B upon carriage 41b in operative rolling engagement with side members 16 of frame 19, as shown in FIGURE of the drawings.

Carriage 4% is extended and retracted by hydraulically operated means. This means includes a double acting hydraulic cylinder 60, the piston of which has its rod 62 connected at 64 to forward transverse support 44 and the rear end of the cylinder being operatively connected at 66 to rear lateral member 18 of frame 1t). Cylinder 66 is in a hydraulic circuit and under the control of an operator control means 63 connected by rod means 70 to a valve mechanism (not shown) mounted in a valve bank '72 located adjacent the rear of frame 16'. The circuit in known manner permits the introduction of pressure fluid to one of the ends of the cylinder while exhausting from the other and also permits the retention of fiuid in both ends of the cylinder to hold its piston in any desired set position. Thus through the action of cylinder 60, carriage is extended or retracted or held in any intermediate position with respect to frame 10.

Each stringer 42 of carriage 40 has an upstanding supporting rigid link 80 mounted thereon adjacent the rear end thereof. The upper ends of links 819 are connected by a cross shaft 82 forming a support and pivotal mounting for a pair of forwardly extending load lift arms 84. The lift arms 84 extend forwardly from cross shaft 22 and are inclined downwardly, as at 88, so that the load engaging end thereof is positioned adjacent the ground when lift arms 84 are in a lowered position. Bracing and supporting members 90 are provided to stiffen and strengthen lift arms 84-. The lift arms 84 are raised and lowered by hydraulically operated means. This means includes a double acting hydraulic cylinder 92 for each arm, the pistons of said cylinders having their rods 94 pivotally connected to brackets 96 secured to intermediate portions of arms 34. The rear ends of the cylinders 92 are operatively connected in a pivotal manner to cross shafts 97 extending between side support stringers 42 and intermediate stringers 49, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4- of the drawings. The cylinders 92 are in a hydraulic circuit and under the control of an operator control means 29 connected by rod means 70 to a valve mechanism (not shown) mounted in valve bank 72. The circuit in known manner permits the introduction of pressure fluid to one of the ends of the cylinder while exhausting from the other and also permits the retention of fluid in both ends of the cylinder to hold its piston in any desired set position. Thus, through the action of the cylinders 92 and the brackets 96, the lift arms 84 are raised or lowered or held in any adjusted position, and pressure may be placed on these arms in their lowered position.

Load engaging means are mounted on the outer ends of the lift arms 84 comprising, in the case of a loader intended for handling building material and the like, a rack formed of spaced forks 98 and a rear upstanding platform 1% pivotally secured, as at 122, to the ends of lift arms 84. Platform 1% may take the form of a telescopic tower, if desired, which may be hydraulically operated in known manner to raise and lower forks 93.

The forks 98 are tilted about pivot 1192 or maintained in a level position by hydraulically operated means. This means includes a pair of rear links 1116 pivotally secured at their forward ends to cross shaft 22 and rigidly con nected at their rear ends to a cross shaft 108. Rigidly mounted on cross shaft 1118 is a vertical toggle bracket 110. Toggle bracket 110 is mounted on cross shaft 11b? to one side of the long axis of carriage 4d and is pivotally connected at its lower end to the piston rod 111 of a double acting hydraulic cylinder 112. Hydraulic cylinder 112 is pivotally attached to a bracket 114 mounted upon a cross member 116 extending between supporting links 81) forwardly of cross shaft 82. See FIGURE 6. Pivotally secured to the upper end of toggle bracket 1119 at 113 is a control arm 113 which extends forwardly therefrom above the plane of lift arms 84. Control arm 11% is curved, as at 119, near its front end to parallel generally arms 84. The forward end of control arm 118 is pivotally connected to an A-shaped pivot clamp 12%, more particularly shown in FTGURE 9. Pivot clamp 121) includes a lateral member 122 pivotally connected at each end thereof to lift arms 84 by means of depending brackets 123 fastened to lift arms 34. Fivot clamp 129 further includes a pair of upwardly converging supports 124 secured at their upper ends to a pair of spaced parallel upstanding members 126. Upstanding members 126 are bored, as at 12?, to pivotally receive the forward end of control arm 118. Connection between control arm 118 and platform 1% is accomplished by means of a pair of forwardly diverging arms 130. Arms 130 are pivotally secured at their rear ends to pivot clamp 12% and control arm 11.8 by means of a transverse junction plate 132 and the spaced parallel links 134 extending rearwardly therefrom and secured to pivot clamp 12% by pin 135. The forward end of diverging arms 13% pivotally engage, as at 136, paltform 1% above its connection 182 with lift arms 84. The cylinder 112 is in a hydraulic circuit under the control of an operator control means 138 connected by rod means 70 to a valve mechanism (not shown) mounted in valve bank 72. The circuit in known manner permits the introduction of pressure fluid to one of the ends of the cylinder while exhausting from the other and also permits the retention of fluid in both ends of the cylinder to hold its piston in any desired set position. Thus, through the action of cylinder 112 and its connection with toggle bracket 111), the platform 1% and forks 98 may be tilted forward to discharge a load or tilted back to cradle a load. By holding the piston of cylinder 112 in a central position, forks 98 may be ad justed to a particular horizontal position. The tilt position selected for forks 98 may be maintained in spite of the various movements of the lift arms 84 by a parallelogram type linkage forming two connected parallelograrns. Thus, the four corners of the first parallelogram are formed by pivots 102, 136, 135 and 123. (FIGURE 3). The second parallelogram is formed by the pivots 123, 135, 113 and 82.

Additional operator control means 144 142, connected by rod means '76 to appropriate valve mechanisms (not shown) in valve bank 72, provide fluid pressure for operating in known manner at least two auxiliary hydraulic means, such as for example, a tower cylinder in case a telescopic tower is desired, remote controlled con-- crete hopper, telescopic boom attachment, and the like.

The hydraulic cylinders 60, 92 and 112, as well as the aforementioned auxiliary hydraulic means (not shown), are connected in known manner with their appropriate valve mechanisms (not shown) in valve bank '72 by means of suitable rigid and flexible hydraulic conduit (not shown) adapted to permit the operation of all mechanisms without interference.

In operation, my machine can be used for lifting, carrying, and depositing loads of various kinds. In FIG- URES 1, 2 and 8 the lift forks 98 are shown in a retracted lowered position. By means of cylinder 69 and operator control 68 carriage 41 can be moved essentially parallel to the ground to the extended position shown in FIGURE 3. At the same time, lift arms 34 can be raised to the positions shown in the dotted lines by means of cylinders 92 and operator control 99. During these movements, forks 98 may be maintained in a level position or in a selected tilt position by the self-levelling arrangement described previously. When it is desired to tilt or cradle forks 9%, cylinder 112 can be actuated by operator control 138 to impart forward or rearward pivoting movements to platform 1110.

This construction permits full payloads to be picked up and placed on scaffolds, roof tops, in windows or doorways without jockeying the machine into an exact position on the ground. With my loader as much as four feet from a building, the operator hydraulically rolls the enmasses tire boom assembly forward .or rearward to pickup or place loads with the forks at any position from ground level up to 40 foot heights. The forks move in a straightforward flat parallel plane and may be automatically self levelled at all positions. Because of the power operation of the carriage 40 through independently controlled hydraulic cylinder ail and lift arms 84 through independently controlled hydraulic cylinders 92, it is possible to move either the carriage 41) or the lift arms 84 separately or to move them simultaneously thus greatly increasing the versatility of the machine. Such an arrangement also contributes to the safety of the machine as the operator has the load under full and accurate control at all times. Furthermore, carriage 4t), and lift arms 84 may be moved on frame 10 to transfer their weight from the rear of the machine to the forward drive wheels thereby increasing traction. By power downcrowding of the lift cylinders 92 and adjusting the position of carriage 40 on frame It), the forward drive wheels can be moved to new solid footing for traction. The forward traction tires and wheels can be changed without the use of separate jacks by using the power downcrowding ability of the lift cylinders 92, if desired.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A reaching type loader including a mobile body having a pair of laterally spaced longitudinal side members forming inwardly facing Way means, the said side members being connected at their rear end by a lateral member,

a carriage, said carriage including a transverse support member, roller means supporting said carriage in said way means for reciprocating movement longitudinally of said mobile body, load handling boom structure mounted on said carriage, and power means operable to extend and retract said carriage and said boom structure with respect to said mobile body, said power means including a single hydraulic jack connected at one end thereof to said transverse support of said carriage and at the other end thereof to the said lateral member connecting the rear end of the said side members of said mobile body, said hydraulic jack being disposed vertically within the plane of and between the said side members of said mobile body.

2. In a reaching type loader including a mobile body, a carriage mounted for reciprocating longitudinal movement on said body, the combination of upstanding laterally spaced support members carried at the rear of said carriage, an upper cross shaft connecting the upper ends of said support members, a lower cross shaft connecting said support members above said carriage, a pair of forwardly extending laterally spaced lift arms pivotally mounted at their rear ends to said upper cross shaft, a load engaging structure pivotally carried by said lift arms at their forward ends, a pair of laterally spaced rearwardly extending links pivotally carried by said upper cross shaft, means rigidly connecting the rear of said links, a toggle bracket mounted on said connecting means and extending above and below said cross shaft, elongated control arm structure pivotally connected at one end to said load engaging structure and at its other end to the upper end of said toggle bracket, and hydraulic cylinder means extending between the lower end of said toggle bracket and said lower cross shaft for tilting said load engaging structure.

3. The loader described in claim 2 wherein an A-shaped pivot clamp is mounted on said lift arms whereby to pivotally support said control arm structure intermediate its ength and above the plane of said lift arms.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,598,685 6/52 Greenlief 2l4140 2,707,059 4/55 Gerst 214--14O 2,759,592 8/56 Daigle 198177 2,887,236 5/59 Mindrum 214-140 3,002,638 10/61 Needy 214-132 3,670,244 12/62 Lull 214140 3,088,611 5/63 Holdren 21414O HUGO Q. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. A REACHING TYPE LOADER INCLUDING A MOBILE BODY HAVING A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED LONGITUDINAL SIDE MEMBERS FORMING INWARDLY FACING WAY MEANS, THE SAID SIDE MEMBERS BEING CONNECTED AT THEIR REAR END BY A LATERAL MEMBER, A CARRIAGE, SAID CARRIAGE INCLUDING A TRANSVERSE SUPPORT MEMBER, ROLLER MEANS SUPPORTING SAID CARRIAGE IN SAID WAY MEANS FOR RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID MOBILE BODY, LOAD HANDLING BOOM STRUCTURE MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE, AND POWER MEANS OPERABLE TO EXTEND AND RETRACT SAID CARRIAGE AND SAID BOOM STRUCTURE WITH RESPECT TO SAID MOBILE BODY, SAID POWER MEANS INCLUDING A SINGLE HYDRAULIC JACK CONNECTED AT ONE END THEREOF TO SAID TRANSVERSE SUPPORT OF SAID CARRIAGE AND AT THE OTHER END THEREOF TO THE SAID LATERAL MEMBER CONNECTING THE REAR END OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS OF SAID MOBILE BODY, SAID HYDRAULIC JACK BEING DISPOSED VERTICALLY WITHIN THE PLANE OF AND BETWEEN THE SAID SIDE MEMBERS OF SAID MOBILE BODY. 